Open burning of household waste: Effect of experimental condition on combustion quality and emission of PCDD, PCDF and PCB

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2012-05, Vol.87 (9), p.1003-1008
• Main Authors: Solorzano-Ochoa, Gustavo, de la Rosa, David A., Maiz-Larralde, Pablo, Gullett, Brian K., Tabor, Dennis G., Touati, Abderrahmane, Wyrzykowska-Ceradini, Barbara, Fiedler, Heidelore, Abel, Todd, Carroll, William F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - chemistry; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Benzofurans - chemistry; burning; Chemistry; combustion; Combustion and energy production; emissions; Enviromental Science; Exact sciences and technology; Family Characteristics; households; Incineration - methods; Kemi; Miljövetenskap; Municipal solid waste; Open burning; PCB; PCDD; PCDF; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - chemistry; polychlorinated dibenzodioxins; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - chemistry; polychlorinated dibenzofurans; Refuse Disposal; Stockholm Convention; Urban and domestic wastes; waste disposal; Wastes
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.11.038

► Large scale open burning experiments monitored for PCDD, PCDF, PCB. ► Active stirring of the burn mixture appears to promote reduction in PCDD/PCDF. ► Generation of PCDD/PCDF and ratio of CO/CO2 highest near end of experiment. ► Applicable to emission factors for open burning under Stockholm Convention. Open burning for waste disposal is, in many countries, the dominant source of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls (PCDD/PCDF/PCB) release to the environment. To generate emission factors for open burning, experimental pile burns of about 100kg of household waste were conducted with emissions sampling. From these experiments and others conducted by the same authors it is found that less compaction of waste or active mixing during the fire – “stirring” – promotes better combustion (as evidenced by lower CO/CO2 ratio) and reduces emissions of PCDD/PCDF/PCB; an intuitive but previously undemonstrated result. These experiments also support previous results suggesting PCDD/PCDF/PCB generation in open burning – while still highly variable – tends to be greater in the later (smoldering) phases of burning when the CO/CO2 ratio increases.